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As Reconstruction progressed, blacks became more assertive and prominent in the southern Republican Party. African-Americans began to flex their political muscles despite common obstacles of white dominance. An example of momentary white repression occurred in South Carolina to black politician Robert B. Elliott, who later took a seat in the House. It is likely that South Carolina would have had an...

Having fulfilled the Congressional requirements for re-admittance to the Union, including the drafting and ratification of new state constitutions, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana came back into the Union between July 9, 1868 and July 15, 1868. This also meant the election of new state legislatures and governments in these states under the new constitutions. For the most part, these...

For the 1876 gubernatorial race in South Carolina, the Democrats nominated General Wade Hampton, one of the state's most popular figures among the white population, and Republicans renominated Governor Chamberlain who was appointed during reconstruction. Hampton embarked on a tour of the state, accompanied by hundreds of armed supporters, while rifle clubs disrupted Republican rallies with violent...

Under the second Reconstruction Act, state governments were required to have a constitutional convention in order to re-draft their documents with laws that would comply with the end of slavery and beginning of the rebuilding process. This would serve as an integral process when petitioning for re-admittance into the United States. While some states sought to comply as quickly and quietly as possible...

The Ku Klux Klan committed outrages against Republicans and their supporters throughout the South during 1870 and 1871; however, party leaders hesitated to respond. In 1868, the constitution of South Carolina was ratified and elections were held for all state offices. The Republican Party dominated the election, from governor to town councils. Robert Scott, a white Republican from Ohio was elected...

In response to Ku Klux Klan activity in South Carolina, President Grant dispatched the military under the leadership of Major Merrill as Post Commandant. A group of white and black citizens in South Carolina had recently been whipped, so Major Merrill called for a conference of citizens to discuss the events and try and prevent more violence. Major Merrill claimed that he had discovered the names of...

A newspaper article was published on June 27 to announce the formation of a society for the improvement of agriculture, called the South Carolina Agricultural Society. The objectives of the society were cited as being improving the internal conditions of South Carolina, with special interest in Camden County. Improvements would be made by discovering new manures and facilitating the collection and...

On June 8, 1822 in Savannah, Ga. Col. Cumming and Mr. M'Duffie carried out a long anticipated duel over a political dispute. M'Duffie was shot in the back (he lived) and Col. Cumming was not injured. M'Duffie was a congressman for South Carolina at the time, and would later become governor of the state. Original reports sent back to Charleston anticipated that M'Duffie would die from his wound. The...

Betting during the earlier decades of the nineteenth century was remarkably more popular among southern citizens than among citizens of the northern states. Although forms of gambling were less common up north, it was a prevalent facet of southern society in 1821. While New Orleans proved to be the major gambling center in the south, even rural South Carolinians were likely to bet on cards, dice,...

An enslaved man named Tom ran away on May 2. This was reported in the City Gazette and Commercial Daily Advertiser for months. He had been a paper boy (carrier of the City Gazette) and was able to read and write. He was formerly enslaved in Virginia (his mother was still there) and worked for the Petersburg Intelligencer. He was known for his skill at the printing press.
The owner believed that Tom...